OVI checkpoint planned for Fourth of July weekend

MEDINA — A Fourth of July weekend drunken-driving checkpoint is scheduled for tonight, according to the Medina County OVI Task Force.

The checkpoint, which is funded by federal grants, is planned to deter, identify and catch impaired drivers.

“State troopers make on average 25,000 OVI arrests each year in an attempt to combat these dangerous drivers,” said Lt. Bill Haymaker, commander of the Ohio Highway Patrol’s Medina post. “OVI checkpoints are designed to not only deter impaired driving, but to proactively remove these dangerous drivers from our roadways.”

By this time last year, six people were killed in OVI-related crashes in Medina County.

So far this year, there has been one fatal crash in the county and alcohol likely was involved, Haymaker said.

Under federal law, police are required to warn drivers about checkpoints to avoid violating the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unlawful search and seizure.

The location of the checkpoint will be announced this morning and posted on The Gazette’s website, www.medina-gazette.com.